Film-making machine



June 12, 1923.

C. P. OLSON FILM MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7 1921 mensions.

Patented June 12, 1923.

CARL P. OLSON, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

PATENT OFFlfiE.

FILM-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed December 7, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL P. OLSON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the town of Irvington, county of Essex, and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Film-MakingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to apparatus adapted to form thin filmsfrom solu tions of nitrocellulose or the like, and particularly toapparatus for'the manufacture of imitation metallic film.

It. has for its objects the formation. of such films as a continuousprocess at a rapid rate by simplified machinery adaptable tosolutions ofhigh or low viscosity.

With the foregoing main objects in view and fulther lesser objects,supplemental thereto, as hereinafter set forth, my invention consists,broadly stated, in the provision of an endless band constituting thefilm carrier, which band has an upward run affording a film-formingsurface adapted to be coated with solution from a trough, one ofwhosesides is constituted by the upwardly moving run of the band. Myinvention further consists in means adapted to move said upward run ofthe band, together with said trough forming the source of supply of thecoating solution so as to angularly displace same relatively to avertical plane, while maintaining the initial tension of the band andits contact with the trough.

I have found that with certain classes of solutions, under adverseatmospheric condiing carrier, unless either the speed be so reduced asto become impracticableor the periphery of such surface be of suchlength as becomes practically prohibitive because of the high cost of adrum adequate for such duty; Such a drum must be of extreme smoothness,without seam, joint or blemish. Th'e'ideal material, glass, cannot beproduced commercially in drum form of adequate di- A metallic surface isobtainable, but at a prohibitive cost, and is liable to injury. Therapid production of film -is handicapped by use of drums of such diameters as are obtainable at reasonable cost. To overcome thesedifficulties, I have devised an endless metallic band and a novel feedtherefor, and means for regulating such feed Serial No. 520,487.

in accordance with the atmospheric conditions and the viscosity of thecoating solution.

In. the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a conventionalized apparatusembodying my invention. Figure 2 is a like view of apart thereof,showing the upward run of the band and the tilting means associatedtherewith. Figure 3 is an end view of the structure of Figure 2. Figureskis a view in sectional elevation of a detail of Figure 2, and of thesolution supply-trough and parts associated therewith.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, of p the structure of Figure 4.Figure 6 is a I view similar to Figure 1 of the film delivery end of theband.

' Like numerals of reference indicate the like parts throughout theseveral figures, 1n which 1 is an endless metallic band about thirtyinches wide-and one hundred twentyfive feet long, on each run, adaptedto be driven 'by the roll 2, which is about four feet in diameter anddriven by a suitable motor, not shown. This band passes around the lowerroll 3, thence upward and over the upper roll 4. These rolls are eachabout two feet in diameter. The roll 2 is suitably journalled in a frameconsisting of a series of vertical members 5 and two pairs of horizontalmembers, one pair, 6, at the top, and another, 7, at the bottom, with anintermediate pair, 8, diagonally disposed, suitably cross-braced. Thetop members, 6, and the intermediate pair, 8, afford bearings for theaxles of a series of flanged rolls 9, spaced about six feet apart on theupper run, and three feet apart on the lower run of the band, as shownin Figure 2, adapted to support the horizontal and diagonal runs of thebelt, the flanges, 10, of these rolls serving as guides preventingsidewise movement of the belt. The rolls 3 and 4 are journalled in aframe having the arms 11 provided with sleeves 12 pinned to and adaptedto rock with the shaft 13. This shaft is supported at its ends inbearings 14 held by bolts and nuts 15, to a bracket 16. This bracket hasthe slots 17 through which the bolts 15 extend and along which slots thebolts may be moved and set tightly. Each bearingl i has an upwardlyextending arm 18and a downwardly exa curved slot 21 formedin an arm 11and an offset 22 of said arm. The bolts 20 are held by the nuts 23.Mounted on the arms 11 is the backing or gu1de 24 adapted to hold thebelt infiexibly against the open side of'the trough 25. This trough is aV- haped three-sided container, its side next the belt being cut away,the belt forming the fourth side thereto, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.It is suitably supported b bracket arms 26 bolted to the arms 11. 'I heopening between the bottom of the trough and the belt is closed by afelt strip or doctor 27 which extends upward at either edge of the sidesof the trough between these sides and the belt, as shown in Figure 5,and indicated as 28. The trough is provided with vertical, removable,partitions 29 adapted to determine the width of the film to be coatedupon the band. A source of drying medium is shown in Flgure 1,comprising a series of perforated pipes 30 1n a suitable housing 31adapted to supply heated air under pressure to the film. 32 is aninjector located about ten feet from the heater and adapted to spray thedried film with a coating of size, as shown in Figure 1. 33 is a sourceof supply of moisture, such as a perforated pipe, adapted to dampen thefilm and cause it to contract away from the roll 2, as shown in Figure 2is a guide roll adapted to change the direction of the film as it peelsaway from the roll 2 and to deliver it to an endless band conveyor 35.36 is a steam-fed brush adapted to clean the film-forming surface of thebelt.

The method of operation of my machine is as follows: The band is firstset in motion, and then, from a source of solutionsupply where thedesired ingredients are suitably mixed, not here illustrated, the troughis filled, if a full width, i. e., 30 inch, film is to be made, or suchpart of the trough as the partitions are adjusted to, in case a narrowerfilm is to be made. The backing 24 holds the band against the edges ofthe trough at bottom and sides, while the band itself is in contact withthe solution forv the full height thereof in the trough, which level iskept constant by a feed from the said source.

The trough is supported from the arms 11, 11 which carry the rolls, andtilts accordingly with the rolls when these are moved from the verticalposition illustrated. In this position, there is attained the maximumdrainage of the solution from the band. From this position the rolls maybe moved to incline the band and the trough, so that the drainage can belessened; to effect this, assuming the rolls in vertical relation, asshown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the bolts 15 are loosened and the bearings14 are moved to the right along the bracket 16, the bolts being movedtherewith along the slots 17.

Moving the bearings 14 to the right, also moves the shaft 13to which thearms 11, 11 are held by the sleeves 12 pinned to the shaft. As the belt1 is non-elastic, when the shaft 13 moves to the right, the arms 11, 11carrying the rolls 3 and 4, rotate on the shaft to compensate for thestrain exerted on the rolls. Since the bottom pair of pins 20, 20,carried by the lower pair of arms 19, 19, exert their pressure againstthe right-hand ends of their slots 21, 21, and tend thereby to move theroll 3 to the right; and since the top pair of pins. 20, 20, carried bythe upper pair of arms 19, 19, are at the left-.

hand end of their slots 21, 21, and are free to more therein, the forcesimpressed on the arms 11, 11, result in tilting the roll supportingframe and its arms. In consequence, as the roll 3 moves to the right,the roll 4 moves to the left. The guide 24 and the trough 25, both beingfixed to the frame, tilt therewith, the top of the trough moving to theleft and the bottom moving to the right. The limit of their tiltedposition affords minimum drainage of solution from the belt. Reversal ofthe motion, 1. e., mov ing the bearings 14 to the left, increases thedrainage to the limiting position illustrated as that of the maximum.Intermediate positions afford variations in drainage as desired foryariations in thickness of the film. The coating formed is examined, andby Inspection of its thinness and texture as it dries, the operatordetermines its merit or demerit, and adjusts the incline of the belt tovary the thickness of the film, if required.

Since the rate of back flow of the coating solution is dependent on theslope of the belt, the amount of material remaining on the belt to formthe film is controlled by this adjustment.

The minimum deposit is attained by the vertical disposition of therolls, and as the belt departs from the vertical, presenting an inclinedrun to the solution, more solution will adhere. The more viscous thesolution, the more nearly vertical is the belt adjustment. The lessviscous the solution, the more the inclination to which the belt is set.After the deposited film has travelled approximately seventy feet, atthe rate of fifteen feet per minute, the film is subjected to a hot-airblast for about twenty feet of its run, and then is, if it is desired toproduce a sized leaf, subjected to a spray from a transverse pipesupplied by an injector fed from a source of compressed air and anothersource of suitable adhesive solution. After approximately twenty feetofcontinued travel, the film passes around the driving roll 2, is wettedby a suitable moistening dev ce, contracts away from the band, and isguided to a travelling belt and conveyed to a cutting table or the like.

aving thus described my invention and the preferred means adaptedstructurally affording an upward run '0 said band; tilting meansassociated with a pair of said supports adapted to vary the inclinationof sa1d band upon its upward run, and coatmg means located between saidpair of supports and comprising a container for a film-forming solution,said container being adapted to present said solution directly to thefilmforming face of said band.

2. In a film-forming machine, in combination, an endless metallic band,means adapted to move said band in a substantially triangular closedpath whose section lies in a vertical plane, said path including anupward run; and means adapted to coat said band with a film-formingfluid upon the upward run of the band, said means including a V-shapedtrough adapted to contain sa1d film-forming fluid and to maintain samein contact with the film-formingface of said band throughout the depthof sa1d contalned band with a film-forming solution upon theupward runof said band, said means .including a trough, one of whose sides 15closed by said band, and means adapted to vary the inclination of saidband upon its upward run.

4. In a film-formingmachine, the combination of an endless metallic bandadapted to travel in a closed path, said path including an upward run,and means adapted tovary the 1nclination of the upward run whilepreserving the tension of the band constant.

5. In a film-forming machine, the combination of an endless metallicband adapted to travel in a closed path, said path including asubstantially straight vertical upward run of said band, means adaptedto permit said'band to coat itself with'a film-forming solution uponsaid upward run, and means adapted to regulate the depth of such coat incomprising a tilting container for said solution.

6. In a film-forming machine, the combination of an endless metallicband adapted to travel in a closed path over a plurality of rolls, threeof said rolls being adapted to change the direction of the belt, wherebya horizontal run and a vertical run'are aiforded, two of said rollsbeing adapted to vary the inclination of the vertical run, a coatingmeans contiguous to the vertical run, and a drying means ad acent saidhorizontal run.

may-be tilted.

7 In a film-forming machine, the combination of an endlessmetallicbandadapted to travel in a closed path over a plurality of rolls, threeofsaid rolls bein adapted to change the direction of the be t, whereby ahorizontal run and a vertical run are afforded, a coating meanscontiguous to the vertical run, a dryin means adjacent said a horizontalrun, the re s limiting the vertical run having axes adapted to berelatively displaced while remaining parallel, and means adapted toeffect such displacement and to preserve the length of the closed pathconstant. p

8. In a film-forming machine, a feed device consisting of a containerfor the filmforming s olut1on, said container. having an open vertlcalside adapted to be closed by an upwardly moving band, said band andmeans adapted to move said band continuously in a closed path andsupporting means common to said band and container whereby both 9 In afilm-forming machine, the combinat1on of an endless band, means adaptedto move sa1d band in a closed path, a pair of rolls adapted to guidesaid band in an upward d1rect1on as a part of said path, and meansadapted to vary the relationship of I said rolls about a common axis.

1t). In a film-forming machine, the combination of a band, means adaptedto move sa1d band in a triangular path, one run whereof is horizontaland another run whereof is vertically upward, a coatin adapted to supplya film-forming so ution to the upward run, said device consisting of anopen-sided container, the edges bordering such open side being inindirect contactwith said band, and a guide adapted to maintain saidband in said contact with said edges.

1 1. In a film-forming machine, the combination of a band, means adaptedto move sa1d band in a triangular path, one run whereof is horizontaland another run whereof is vertically upward, a coating device adaptedto supply a film-forming solution to the upward run, said deviceconsisting'of an open-sided container, the edges borderin such open sidebeing in indirect contact wit said band, a guide adapted to maintainsaid band in said contact with said edges, and an interposed packingalong the said edges adapted to contact directly with said band.

12. In a film-forming machine, the combinat1on of a band, means adaptedto move said band in 'a triangular path, one run whereof ishorizontalf'and another run whereof I is vertically upward, a coatingdevice adapted to supply a film-forming solution to the upward run, saiddevice consisting of an open-sided. container, the edges bordering suchopen side being in indirect contact with sa1d band, a guide adapted tomaintain said band in said contact with said edges, and

means adapted to preserve the relative positions of said-coating device,band and guide' when the inclination of upward travel of saidb and isvaried from the vertical.

13. In a film-forming machine, the combination of a band, means adaptedto move said band in a triangular path, one run whereof is horizontaland another run whereof is vertically upward, a coating device adaptedto supply a film-forming solution to the upward run, said deviceconsisting of an open-sided container, the edges bordering such openside being in indirect contact with. said band, a guide adapted tomaintain said band in said contact with said edges, means adapted topreserve the relative positions of whereof is horizontal and another runwhere-.

of is vertically upward, a coating device adapted to supply afilm-forming solution to the upward run, said device consisting of anopen-sided container, the edges bordering such open side being inindirect contact with said band, a guide adapted to maintain said bandin said contact with saidedges, means adapted to preserve the relativepositions of said coating device, band and guide when the inclination ofupward travel of said band is varied from the vertical, and meansadapted to vary the inclination of upward travel of said band from andto the vertical, said means comprising a pair of rolls having.

their axes parallel to and in the same plane with a shaft midway betweensaid rolls, arms mounted upon said shaft, bearings at the ends of saidarms, in which bearings the axes of the said rolls are journalled, and.

means adapted to-move sa-idarms through an arc, the axes of the rollsremaining in a plane common to the said shaft. CARL P. OLSON.

